Sliding valve for a shower head

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly includes a slider controlling the water flow through the valve assembly and having a variably sized outer dimension. The slider has opposite ends, one of which receives a removable stop, whereas the other end is enlarged to form a flange arresting displacement of the slider in a predetermine position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a valve assembly and particularly to asliding valve assembly capable of controlling the water flow throughfaucets and shower heads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Sliding valve assemblies are commonly used in the plumbingindustry to effectuate a rate and volume of the water supply to a user.Typical of such valve assemblies is a slider which has a variable crosssection along its longitudinal axis. As a result, while the slider isbeing displaced parallel to its longitudinal axis and, thus,transversely to the direction of water flow, it may close and open awater passage in a housing of the valve assembly.

[0003] Typically, axially spaced apart stoppers mounted on opposite endsof the slider limit its displacement within the housing. Thus, a usermay remove the slider from the housing after removing either of thestoppers. The stoppers are received in annular grooves machined at theopposite ends of the slider.

[0004] Manufacturing of the grooves leads to a relatively costinefficient product. Furthermore, there is no need to have two removablestoppers, since one removable stopper can be as effective as the pairand allow the removal of the slider from the housing.

[0005] It is, therefore, desirable to have a sliding valve assemblywhich has a slider provided with a single removable stopper. Also, asliding valve assembly wherein the slider has an enlargement immovablyformed on a body of the slider is also desirable, as is a method formanufacturing such valve assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, a valve assembly having a slider, one end of whichis recessed to receive a stopper, whereas the opposite end is knurled,coined or stamped provides an effective and cost-efficient structure.

[0007] The valve assembly includes a housing provided with a channelwhich directs the water flow toward a discharge end of the assembly, anda slider which is displaceable transversely to the water flow tocontrollably open and close the channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the slider is manufactured by a method wherein thesteps of machining a groove at one end and enlarging the opposite end bycoining, stamping or knurling are performed without re-adjusting theslider on the lathe.

[0009] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to manufacture acost-efficient sliding assembly.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a valve assemblywith a slider having a stop received only on one of the opposite ends ofthe slider.

[0011] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valveassembly having a slider which has one of its ends provided with anenlargement formed unitarily with the end by means of knurling, coiningor stamping.

[0012] Still a further object of the invention is to provide a methodfor manufacturing the valve assembly.

[0013] The above and other features, objects and advantages will bebecome more readily apparent from the following description of apreferred embodiment discussed in conjunction in the accompanyingdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a valve assembly in accordance withthe invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a slider of the valveassembly shown in FIG. 1.

[0016]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the slider of FIG. 2.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the valve assembly taken along linesIV-IV in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a valve assembly 10 includes a housing 12having inlet 14 and discharge 16 ends and extending along a center axis18. The housing 12 is provided with axial channels 20, 22 which arespaced axially apart. A third channel 28 extends along an axis 28transversely to the axis 18 and separates the axial passages 20, 22.

[0019] The inlet end 16 has a reduced outer diameter and is providedwith an outer thread 30 adapted to receive a variety of jet-distributingtools. The inlet end 14 formed with a central bore 32 has an innerthread 34 adapted to receive a water supply pipe 36.

[0020] The channel 26 opens at its opposite ends 38 and 40 into an outerperipheral wall 42, which, in the region of the end 40, has a holeprovided with an annular slanted periphery 44 extending inwardly fromthe wall 42.

[0021] A slider 46 adapted to close and open the axial channels 20, 22has opposite ends 48, 50 and a body 52 formed with two end regions 54,56 which have the same outer diameter slightly smaller than a diameterof the channel 26. Accordingly, after the slider is inserted into thechannel 26, its outer surface is in sliding contact with an innersurface of the housing defining the channel 26.

[0022] A region 58 of the slider, which separates the end regions 54 and56, has a diameter smaller than that of these end regions and ofpassages 20, 22. Although a length of the region 58 can be less than adiameter of the passages 20, 22, it is preferred that the length is atleast equal to the diameter of water passages. Accordingly, as theslider moves along the channel 26, its regions 54 and 56 block thepassages 20, 22 and, thus, interrupt the water flow. When the region 58is aligned with the passages, the water flow runs through the passages20, 22 at a slightly reduced rate caused by the resistance of the region58 to the water flow. Note, the region 58 of the slider is shown with auniform outer dimension. However, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4,this region may have a surface 60 with a variable outer dimension togradually vary the water flow from the full flow to no flow at all.Further note, that although the slider as shown has a cylindrical shape,other shapes such as polygonal ones can be implemented as well.

[0023] The end 50 of the region 54 has a reduced diameter knob 62pressed upon by a user in order to displace the slider along the channel28 and an annular recess 64 receiving a removable stop 66 after theslider has been displaced through the channel 26. The stop 66 thuslimits displacement of the slider preventing it from voluntary slidingfrom the channel.

[0024] The opposite end 48 of the slider has an enlargement 68. Toprovide the enlargement, knurling, stamping or coining of the slider isperformed in a lathe without dismounting the slider for furtherreadjustment. Knurling is a simple operation that does not requireprecise tooling and yet the thus machined end 48 effectively stops thedisplacement of the slider within the channel 26. As seen in FIG. 4, theslanted region 44 formed in the wall 42 provides a nest for a knurledflange 70 when the slider reaches a position, wherein the water flow iscompletely blocked. In this position, the end 48 is practically flushedwith the outer wall providing thus the assembly with an aestheticallyappealing feature.

[0025] Although the invention has been described with reference to aparticular arrangements of parts, features and the like, these are notintended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeedmany other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to thoseof skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve assembly for a plumbing fixturecomprising: a housing provided with a water passage between inlet anddischarge ends; a channel in the housing extending transversely to thewater passage; a slider displaceably mounted in said channel and havinga variably sized outer periphery to block the water passage in oneposition and to open it in another position during displacement of theslider along the channel; the slider having opposite ends; a removablestop provided on one of the opposite ends of the slider to arrestdisplacement of the slider when it reaches one of the positions; and anenlargement integrally provided immovably on the other end to arrestdisplacement of the slider after it reaches the other position.
 2. Thevalve assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the channel has opposite ends,one of which is delimited by an inwardly slanted surface forming a nestfor the enlargement.
 3. The valve assembly defined in claim 2 whereinthe enlargement has an outer face substantially flush with an outersurface of the housing after the enlargement flange is received in thenest in the one position of the slider.
 4. The valve assembly defined inclaim 1 wherein the opposite end of the slider has a recess receivingthe stop having an outer diameter larger than an opening in the housingwhich defines the end of the channel opposite to the one end, the stoppresses against the outer surface of the housing in the other positionof the slider.
 5. The valve assembly defined in claim 1 wherein theslider has a body provided with opposite end regions, which have thesame outer dimension, and with an intermediate region which has an outerdimension less that that of the end regions to allow the water flowthrough the passage in the other position of the slider.
 6. The valveassembly defined in claim 5 wherein the intermediate region of theslider is larger than a diameter of the passage.
 7. The valve assemblydefied in claim 5 wherein the intermediate region has a uniform outerdimension.
 8. The valve assembly defied in claim 5 wherein theintermediate region has a variably sized outer surface.
 9. The valveassembly defied in claim 8 wherein the intermediate region has a conicalshape to vary a rate at which the water flow is delivered to thedischarge end..
 10. The valve assembly defined in claim 1 wherein theenlargement is an annular flange which is formed by a means selectedfrom the group consisting of coining, stamping and knurling.
 11. A valveassembly having an inlet end and a discharge end traversed by waterflow, comprising a slider displaceable in the assembly transversely tothe water flow between a first position wherein the water flow iscompletely blocked, and a second position, wherein the water flow isdelivered to the discharge end, the slider having a first end and anopposite end provided with an immovable flange to limit displacement ofthe slider after it has reached the second position.
 12. A method ofmanufacturing a valve assembly comprising the steps of: providing awater passage between inlet and discharge ends of a housing; providing achannel in the housing extending transversely to the water passage;providing a slider having a variable outer dimension between itsopposite ends to periodically block and open the water passage as theslider is being displaceable along the water passage between first andsecond positions; providing a stop removably mounted on one of theopposite ends of the slider to arrest its displacement in one of thefirst and second positions of the slider; and enlarging the other one ofthe opposite ends of the slider, thereby forming a flange preventingfurther displacement of the slider after it has reached the otherposition of the slider..
 13. The method defined in claim 11 wherein thestep of enlarging includes a step selected from the group consisting ofstamping, coining and knurling.